When Weight Matters

16/09/2025

Targeting vulnerable people is so not cool or ok not to mention dangerous in some cases

15/09/2025

Anyone who's ever been on a diet has probably experienced the moment when...

04/09/2025

https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/patients-with-obesity-rate-their-ideal-primary-care-visit-respect-tops-the-list

Drexel University research shows simple changes could make primary care visits more welcoming and less stressful for patients.

30/08/2025

I found this distressing to watch and the commentary below is excellent
https://conscienhealth.org/2025/08/learning-from-18-seasons-of-exploitation-on-the-biggest-loser/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMfXCJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFoY0J3VnZieXVkcVdlZUR0AR7Ly0H8OtzKEihTuLRYitp0Q84nC41E3UoOBVg315gFeGwBlaaF1YnOGstX8w_aem_w1Pz8jlWIbb5gsHNRj9dJg

Twenty years after the Biggest Loser first debuted, a Netflix documentary lays bare the exploitation of that show. It’s not pretty.

19/08/2025

Oh my goodness, this is quite shocking to me. I used to find prizes in $ value or gifts in weight loss competitions disturbing but this takes it to the next level of misunderstanding the nature of weight

Can we imagine a $5,000 penalty for relapsing breast cancer? Of course not. But after obesity surgery, a school district feels OK about a $5,000 penalty for weight regain.

Nope, is not gone. It's just sneakier.
https://conscienhealth.org/2025/08/bias-ever-present-a-5000-penalty-for-obesity-relapse/

18/08/2025

This is important

Malnutrition in larger bodies is being dangerously overlooked — especially in people living with obesity and osteoarthritis.

A recent study from the University of Alberta found that individuals with sarcopenic obesity (low muscle mass + high fat mass) are often misjudged as well-nourished simply because of their body size — even as nutritional deficiencies worsen their osteoarthritis symptoms.

“BMI does not define your health,” says lead researcher Flavio Vieira — and yet outdated assumptions continue to guide care decisions.

What’s needed?
✔️ A comprehensive understanding of malnutrition
✔️ Use of proper assessment tools like GLIM
✔️ Multi-disciplinary teams that treat the whole person, not just their weight

We must challenge weight bias in healthcare and stop assuming that a larger body means a nourished body.

Progress is happening — but awareness, education, and compassion must lead the way.

https://ow.ly/4soQ50Wz2zI

13/08/2025

Weight isn’t just about willpower — it’s biology, society, and medicine.

Our body weight is tightly regulated by the brain to protect us from starvation and support species survival. But in modern environments where food is abundant, this system can go into overdrive — contributing to chronic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease.

While GLP-1-based drugs have brought new hope, they’re not one-size-fits-all solutions. These medications work by signaling the brain to reduce appetite — but side effects, cost, and weight regain after stopping are real challenges.

A key finding? People who lose more weight on treatment are more likely to keep some of it off — even after stopping. But for many, long-term use is necessary to maintain progress.

All of this underscores what we already know:
➡️ Obesity is a chronic, complex disease
➡️ Effective care must be personalized, long-term, and stigma-free
➡️ And we need systems that support people — not blame them

Let’s keep shifting the conversation from weight loss to health gain, compassion, and continuity of care.



https://ow.ly/Gmwf50Wz1Kj

12/08/2025

💭 “Summer body” myths are everywhere — but they’re doing more harm than good.

For decades, we’ve been told there’s only one way to look in the summer — slim, toned, and ready for the beach. But that’s not health, and it’s certainly not the whole story.

✅ Here’s the truth:

• Up to 70% of weight is determined by biology and genetics — not willpower alone.

• The “calories in, calories out” mantra oversimplifies a complex, chronic condition.

• Health comes in many shapes and sizes — not just a number on the scale.

Obesity is not a lifestyle choice or a moral failing. It’s a chronic disease, and the path to better health is personal, multifaceted, and rooted in compassion.

Let’s rewrite the conversation. Less shame. More science. More support. 💙

11/08/2025

💭 Food Noise: When thoughts about food become more than routine.

Thoughts about food are a normal and necessary part of our daily cognitive processes. Whether it’s deciding what to eat, where to eat, or when to eat, we engage with food-related decisions regularly. These decisions are also shaped by social expectations, health concerns, and cultural norms.

But in today’s radically changed food environment, characterised by 24/7 food availability, pervasive marketing, evolving labelling systems, and increasing public awareness of nutrition, the cognitive load around food has intensified.

For individuals managing health conditions such as obesity or diabetes, these decisions can become particularly complex and emotionally taxing.

What was once a simple thought, "What’s for lunch?" can turn into a persistent and unpleasant mental dialogue.

🔍 A new article in 'Nutrition & Diabetes' explores this emerging concept, its potential effects on health and quality of life, and why it matters in both clinical and public health contexts.

📄 Read the full article here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41387-025-00382-x

08/08/2025

https://conscienhealth.org/2025/07/nudges-meet-stubborn-humans-and-complex-systems-in-obesity/

Behavioral nudges sound like a great way to “tackle” obesity – but only if you set aside all factors other than choice that drive obesity.

08/08/2025